The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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UDA candidate Leo Wamuthende has secured the Mbeere North parliamentary seat in a fiercely competitive by-election, reinforcing the party’s political strength in Embu County.
Wamuthende garnered 15,802 votes, narrowly beating his closest challenger, Newton Kariuki (Newton Karish), who received 15,308 votes.
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Jubilant scenes broke out in Siakago, Mutuobare, Kanyuambora and other towns as supporters lifted Wamuthende and celebrated the victory.
A by-election that became a Mt. Kenya political showdown
What started as a routine poll — following the appointment of former MP Geoffrey Ruku to the Cabinet in March 2025 — quickly escalated into a symbolic contest between Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kindiki led multiple rallies for Wamuthende, framing the election as a vote for continuity in government projects such as roads, electrification, water systems, and the Kiambere Dam reticulation programme.
Gachagua, meanwhile, vigorously campaigned for Kariuki through grassroots mobilisation, urging voters to reject what he termed “state-sponsored politics.”
Their rivalry transformed the by-election into a proxy battle reflecting deeper political tensions in the Mt. Kenya region.
Accusations of coercion, bribery, and tension
The run-up to the vote was marked by claims from both sides about voter bribery, intimidation and attempts to manipulate the election.
Gachagua accused government-aligned forces of hiring goons, buying IDs, and using up to Sh600 million to sway voters. He also cited alarming online videos threatening violence and called on the Inspector General of Police to intervene.
UDA dismissed the claims, branding them exaggerated attempts to tarnish Wamuthende’s campaign.
Kindiki cautioned that the state would act firmly against anyone disrupting peace and encouraged residents to vote freely.
Despite the fraught atmosphere, early reports indicated voting went on fairly smoothly, with only minor disturbances reported — each side blaming the other for the tensions.
What the win means
Wamuthende’s triumph is seen as more than a constituency-level win. Analysts view it as a boost to UDA’s foothold in Embu and a sign of rising influence for Kindiki in Mt. Kenya East.
For the new MP, the victory positions him as an emerging young leader whose development-focused agenda appealed to local voters.
For the opposition faction aligned to Gachagua, the narrow loss could trigger strategic recalculations ahead of the 2027 elections. Kariuki’s strong performance shows there is still notable support for alternatives to UDA, even as overcoming state-backed political machinery remains difficult.
